Last season’s cancellation due to covid-19 was a double whammy for Chapin girls’ lacrosse.

The seniors were not only denied a final season, but also the opportunity to defend a long-sought Class 5A title.

After closing out the regular season April 15 with a 24- 1 win over Lexington, the Lady Eagles and 2nd year head coach Raven Thomas are motivated to reclaim a title it did not lose on the field.

“We’re looking to go into the playoff full force,” Thomas said. “We want to get another state title.”

Coming off a 11-4 home loss to Bishop England this past Monday, Chapin (12-1, 6-0) found itself trailing 1-0 on the road to the Lady Wildcats. It proceeded to score 24 unanswered points to close out Region 5-5A and District 4 play with an undefeated mark.

“The game against Bishop England was tough and kind of a reality check for us,” Thomas said. “It showed us what we need to work on going forward. We’re going full force in the days off. The seniors want it, especially for the girls who were robbed from it last year. We just really want another state title.”

Chapin has 6 seniors - captains Megan VanVollenhoven, Paige Maylath and Sadie Salazar, goalkeeper Kate Stodden, Aleigh Tisdale and Grace McClure - on a roster with 7 freshman and 2 sophomores. Thomas said those seniors have “led by example” and have helped “power up” the underclassmen.

The Lady Eagles will have homefield advantage through the Class 5A Lower State playoffs. They opened Tuesday against Spring Valley at Cecil Woolbright Field.

The Dutch Fork girls also opened at home against Carolina Forest, while River Bluff traveled to St. James.

On the boys side, Lower State top seed Lexington opened against archrival River Bluff Tuesday at home and Dutch Fork played host to Socastee. Fresh off its season-opening 10-9 overtime win over the Wildcats, Chapin headed to Wando for the 1st round contest. Irmo began the Class 4A playoffs on the road versus Christ Church.